Eclipse
As I sit at
my computer awaiting the 75 percent eclipse that is expected in New Jersey I am
in awe.
Am I in awe
of the moon blocking out the sun? Not
really, as a matter of fact I am staying inside afraid to watch the spectacle as
I have been bombarded with warnings about going blind from watching the
eclipse.
Yes, I could
get those special glasses which were sold out a week ago, but there have also
been warnings about how safe some glasses are.
Some have been certified falsely…which ones? I don’t want to find out.
I could watch
it through a box with a pinhole or something, but isn’t that just a
shadow? I don’t know, to me it is not
worth the chance of hurting my eyes. I vaguely remember a partial eclipse many years ago where
there was none of this buildup. It was
interesting, but it was not a big deal.
The news, the internet, whatever is responsible for the hoopla, I still
think the excitement has been overdone and is quite frankly a little silly.
So why am I
in awe?
I get the
moon blocking the sun thing; cool, but I understand the principle.
I am in awe
of the mathematicians that can take the size of the moon, the size of the sun,
the distance of both from the earth at any particular phase of orbit, then use
the speed of the moon circling the earth and the earth circling the sun plus
the earths spin on its axis, and then predict to the second when and where
there will be a total eclipse.
They have
been able to do this for many years, even many years before computers, and they
are even telling us when and where it will happen next in the US, several years
from now.
The eclipse;
very cool for sure.
The mathematics
that predicts the exact track and time of the total eclipse…UNBELIEVABLE!!
I remember watching an eclipse many, many years ao when I was quite small. The teachers gave us all a photo negative to look through. It's a wonder we aren't all blind. lol
ReplyDeleteBriony
x
I, too, am in awe! The whole concept is unbelievable when you think of it.
ReplyDeleteRight down to the minute we can expect totality and the minute it will all be over. It IS amazing.
ReplyDeleteI'll second that.
ReplyDeleteThe hoopla is a bit much, but I suppose that's what the Internet does with everything. I'm also impressed by the math.
ReplyDeleteHey Joe, I agree with you 100%, it is amazing to me how they are able to predict the exact date and time of something like this eclipse, Cindy got the special glasses for us and we watched the 65% eclipse we had in our backyard, it was really cool and I just imagine those in the 100% coverage areas were really impressed.
ReplyDeleteIt didn't get as dark here in Oregon as I thought it would, but it was still interesting.
ReplyDeleteIt WAS awesome. We were in the path of totality. Saw the whole show from our back yard. Dark, cold, stars, diamond ring effect, solar flares--the whole ball of wax. Check that one off the bucket list.
ReplyDeleteMath is so cool!
ReplyDeleteThe funny thing is, (yes, I know you'll delete this) is I had to explain to a neighbor why the eclipse was coming from west to east, when the sun rises east to west.
ReplyDeleteTake care, Joeh. Hope you're well
Mike
I watched it just outside of work with a few coworkers. I thought it was pretty cool! I love how dark it got, and it got a little windy (and I'd say that the temperatures dropped about 5 degrees!). I could totally see why people go for the path of totality! :)
ReplyDeleteTotality was great! Not as dark as I expected, more like a moonlit night, and the grass and trees gave off that smell of nighttime.
ReplyDeleteI was in surgery when it came through Ohio. (working, not having surgery!) I was sad to miss it but was so happy that finally the news was fun and exciting and it took the spotlight away from other crap that's been in the news. Made for a more fun Monday!
ReplyDeleteI agree. The fact that tell us when the next one will be... and the one after that... amazing.
ReplyDeleteI hadn't thought about the mathematics that go into such things, but now that you've alerted me, you're right, that is the most awesome part.
ReplyDeleteI live in the wrong place, so thank goodness for television!
ReplyDeleteI too was impressed with the preciseness of the timing. Wow. I enjoyed the 94 percent we got here and the 10 degree cool down was delightful.
ReplyDeleteWe actually drove the nine hours from OurTown in Michigan, down to the Path of Totality in western Kentucky. Watched it through my trusty #14 welding shade. Totally spectacular. . .
ReplyDeleteThat's the part that absolutely blows me away. As the old saying goes - there are three kinds of people in this world. Those who can count. And those who can't.
ReplyDeleteR
88% here. We used that time to do some yardwork - cooled down about 5 degrees and it seemed like a storm was brewing. Then, Poof, it was gone.
ReplyDeleteYeah it was over-hyped like everything is these days. The more they hype it, the more I resist.
This was the first time I actually had time to focus on an eclipse though we only had 60% in Southern California. Was nice to add another new experience as fewer nature ones I'm having in my older years -- and so easy as didn't have to leave home.
ReplyDeletei too remember the partial eclipse in my childhood back native village and still can feel the excitement of that moment .
ReplyDeleteliving in a vast universe having going on so much around us is thing that never let my excitement go down or dull .
i love all such wonders .
i often think that scientists are the true men of god who are worshiping in very correct order by telling people what is what
how is how ?
they spend their whole lives for seeking the knowledge which will definitely serve the humanity more in future
Sure it was hyped, but just think how it brought us all together, at least for a moment. That is a good thing.
ReplyDeleteI wonder about the first people who were able to figure out the timing of the eclipse...did they use it to their advantage? Like, did they turn to their kids and say, "You clean your room right now or I'll make it go dark in the middle of the day!"